The Baron led Nello from the desk where he had been writing and
planted him in one of the numerous comfortable chairs scattered about
the handsomely furnished room.
"Sit you down there, my young friend, while I talk to you. Now, these
translations are very good, and they have started an idea in my mind
which might result in something useful. But, in the first place, I
should like to know something of your own views. Would you have any
objection to leave England for a space, assuming that I could push
your musical interests in another country?"
It did not take the young man long to consider. A musician is, or
should be, cosmopolitan; to-day in London, next week in Paris, the
week after in Vienna or Berlin.
"One country is as good to me as another, Baron, so long as my chance
of a career is equal."
"Good!" The financier looked at his watch. "It is now half-past
eleven, and I have a deal to do between now and one o'clock. Can you
see me again at one?"
"My time is at your disposal, sir. I will return at one."
"By that time my ideas will have developed, and I may be able to put
before you a definite proposition," said Salmoros. "I have an
unpretentious little lunch served here every day when I have no
outside engagements. You will honour me by partaking of it. I cannot
speak very highly of the _cuisine_; it is quite simple, but I shall be
able to give you a very decent bottle of wine."
"A thousand thanks, Baron." Nello smiled inwardly at his host's
apologies for the simplicity of the meal. This rich man did not know,
and perhaps it was better he should not know, the depths of the
poverty to which his guest had descended, how often he had gone to bed
half famished.
At the appointed hour he returned. The same young man who had
previously received him showed him into a small room, no less well
furnished than the other.
A round dining-table was laid for two. As he had expected, it was to
be a _tete-a-tete_ meal. He had just time to notice the beautiful
appointments of the table, the snowy napery, the rare old silver, the
exquisite glass, when Salmoros entered. A moment later the meal was
served, simple in its elements, but perfectly cooked.
The wine served during the few courses was champagne. The Baron had a
couple of glasses at both lunch and dinner; he believed in its
stimulating properties.
Then a bottle of claret of the finest vintage was put on the table,
and the financier produced some perfect cigars. There was no doubt
that Baron Andreas Salmoros had a great respect for his creature
comforts. A man of the profoundest intellect, he was also an artist
and an epicure.
"Now, my young friend," he said as he puffed at his excellent cigar
with every appearance of enjoying to the full its flavour and perfume.
"We will talk. Help yourself to that claret; I can recommend it."
Nello did as he was requested. His head was swimming a little from the
unaccustomed champagne, but he had no desire to forfeit the Baron's
good graces by proclaiming himself a weakling. If this was how people
in the great world lived, he must pretend to be used to it.
He waited respectfully for the great man to unfold the plan that would
perhaps change his whole life and open out to him a new world. Of
course he was shrewd enough to guess that whatever was proposed would
be as much in the Baron's interests as his own.
But he did not feel resentful over this. Philanthropists pure and
simple are not generally found amid such palatial surroundings. Poor
old Papa Peron had been one without doubt, and he had flung his money
about right and left; wrecked his life for a sentimental attachment
and drawn his last breath in a mean lodging. Emphatically Baron
Salmoros was not of the same breed. He seemed kindly, and there was
often a benevolent gleam in those clear, shrewd eyes. But for every
ounce of help he gave, he would stipulate for a handsome return.
"I think, Corsini, we can help each other very considerably. I believe
it is in my power to advance you in two ways; in the more permanent
direction that my dear old friend, Jean Villefort, suggests, and also
in the artistic way. I take it, the latter is really nearer to your
heart. Even if your success has not been stupendous, you have set your
first footstep on the ladder of fame."
"I should be very sorry if I found it an absolute necessity to give up
my musical career altogether, Baron."
Salmoros nodded his massive snow-white head. "In that you have my
fullest sympathy. I told you a short time ago what I would give to
possess your executive talent. Well, I have been thinking considerably
since you left, and I believe I can solve the difficulty."
Nello followed him with the closest attention. To a certain extent he
had found a fairy godfather in Papa Peron, for from the chance meeting
on that snowy winter's night had flowed his present success, his
introduction to Gay, through Gay his meeting with Paul Degraux. Was he
about to find a more powerful and influential one in this
world-renowned financier?
"Suppose I sent you on a partly diplomatic mission to Russia, and at
the same time insured you certain introductions which would help you
greatly in your musical career--What would you say to that? Does the
suggestion impress you?"
The young man could hardly believe his ears. Again his thoughts went
back to the days when he had played in the streets for a few miserable
coppers. And to-day he was sitting, an honoured guest, at the table of
one of the greatest financiers in the world. He had to assure himself
that he was not dreaming.
"I cannot think of anything more delightful," was the fervent answer.
The Baron proceeded. "I want a very private and confidential
letter--it will, of course, be written in cipher--carried to Lord
Ickfold, the British Ambassador at Saint Petersburg."
Nello bowed. This would surely not be a very difficult task.
"You may wonder why I should employ you on this mission. I could get
it through a Foreign Office Messenger, as a matter of course, but he
would be suspected, and my letter might be abstracted. They have some
very clever people on the other side. You follow me?"
Nello assured him that he did. He was not at all sure that he did
follow the windings of this subtle intelligence. But it would never do
to let the Baron suspect that.
"Now, nobody will suspect you. It is well known that I am a rather
generous patron of the arts, that I have befriended many a struggling
genius; helped him upwards in his career. Poor old Jean Villefort has
sent you to me, soliciting my influence. I have numerous friends in
Russia. You consult me. I come to the conclusion that a short absence
from England will whet the appreciation of those who have already
recognised you as an artist of considerable ability."
Nello nodded his handsome head. Salmoros was now getting on ground
where he could easily follow him.
"I suggest that, with my introduction, you can make a greater and
quicker success than here--you can afterwards come back with a foreign
_cachet_. At the same time you carry my letter, and put yourself at
the disposition of Lord Ickfold and any friends he may introduce you
to, on the diplomatic side."
Yes, Corsini understood perfectly now. He said as much.
"I take it that, up to the present, you have not made a vast number of
acquaintances. Anyway, the diplomatic part must be kept a strict
secret between us, until I give you leave to speak of it. Perhaps I
may never give you leave; anyway, to those few friends you have, give
it out that you have seen me, that I have interested myself in your
career and have advised you to go to Russia, where I believe my
introductions will insure you an immediate success."
"I understand perfectly, Baron. When do you wish me to start?"
"As soon as possible; the matter is urgent. But before we settle that,
let me recommend you to pay a casual visit to Paul Degraux and tell
him what I have told you to say. You need mention nothing about poor
old Jean; he would not be interested in it, if you told him the story.
Just mention that you were presented, which is the truth, by Lady
Glendover; that you achieved the rest yourself."
"I will pay a casual visit to Degraux to-morrow."
"Right," said the Baron, pleased to find his latest pupil was so
quick. "Degraux is in with all the musical people, and what you tell
him to-day will be whispered to a hundred persons in the course of the
next few days. And having assisted at your debut, he will be prepared
to claim a considerable amount of interest in your success. Now, when
can you go? I have told you the matter is urgent. What engagements
have you got on?"
"Only two, Baron. One to-night, at Leicester House, the other three
nights hence."
"We can say, then, that you will be ready to leave England on the
Monday of next week?" queried Salmoros.
"I shall be ready," answered Nello quickly. Then he waited. The
financier would surely say something about ways and means. He had
saved a certain sum of money in the short time that he had been
successful, but that modest store would not support the expenses of a
Russian campaign.
But of course Salmoros was not a man likely to overlook such an
important point as this.
"One does not travel for nothing. And I may tell you that in this
enterprise, on which you are embarking at my instigation, there will
be no lack of the sinews of war. I shall give you a considerable
amount of money to start with. When you arrive in Russia, you will be
well provided with funds. I can assure you that you will not regret
having temporarily relinquished your artistic career here. Lunch with
me again here on Friday of this week. I will have everything ready
cut-and-dried for you."
The great man looked at his watch. "Fortunately, not a very busy day.
I am glad we have had plenty of time to talk. But I will give you more
time on Friday."
Nello perceived that he was dismissed. This man had many irons in the
fire; he could not stay too long in warming one. Still, there was
something he must say before he left; something very important.
"Pardon me, Baron, if I intrude upon a few more seconds of your
valuable time. You know nothing of my domestic circumstances. I have
neither wife nor sweetheart, but I have a young sister, to whom I am
very tenderly attached. I may take her with me on this journey?"
Over Salmoros's usually kind face there crept a slight frown. He had
not thought of this, and yet a young man was bound to have an
entanglement of some sort. Fortunate that it was not a wife, still
more fortunate that it was not a sweetheart. He knew the artistic
temperaments well. One smile of a woman would outweigh much gold.
Then the frown died away and the benevolent smile came back. He must
reason with this young man calmly.
"I take it you are very devoted to each other?"
Nello answered fervently. "We think with one brain, we feel with one
heart, sir. It will cut her to the quick for me to leave her behind."
The Baron spoke musingly. Years ago he had had his love affairs like
other men; but women had never entered into his scheme of things as
they had in the case of his old friend Jean. They were meant for man's
leisure, for his playtime; they could not be woven into the serious
business of life.
"That is all very well, Corsini, but hearts are not so easily broken
by a little absence. One day you will leave her for a wife, one day
she will leave you for a husband. I trust she will be sensible. You
cannot go on this expedition hampered by a woman, whatever her
relationship. You will come back to her soon."
"How soon do you think, sir?" questioned Nello eagerly.
"Say, in two or three months." The Baron's tone was a little
hesitating. He knew in his own mind that there was a darker side to
the picture, that there might be an altogether different ending to the
journey. But he was not going to frighten the young man with that, or
he might cry off at the last minute.
Nello persisted; his love for his self-sacrificing little sister was
very real, very deep.
"She is young, in many things younger than her years, and utterly
ignorant of the world. I cannot leave her alone, Baron, in the charge
of a careless landlady. I would rather give up the whole thing and
risk my chances here in London."
The Baron thought to himself that here was a more difficult person to
deal with than he expected. But it was not very long before his
fertile brain solved the difficulty.
"I understand. I am the last man in the world to suggest such an
inhuman thing. I can make the way easy for you. Two dear friends of
mine, old maids I suppose we must call them, have a big house in
Kensington. They are very lonely, without any young relatives. At a
word from me they would be delighted to take charge of her during your
brief absence. Keep what money you have saved for yourself. I will
charge myself with her maintenance, and she shall have plenty of
pocket-money, I can assure you."
Nello grasped the old man's hand warmly. "You have relieved me of the
last ounce of hesitation. A thousand, nay, ten thousand thanks."
The Baron returned the pressure; he was delighted he had got his own
way. "That is understood. On Friday I will have that cut-and-dried
also. Now keep up your little sister's spirits--what is her name? Eh,
Anita. Tell her that you are going to make fame and fortune, that you
will soon be back, and that she will be very happy with these two dear
old ladies, who will cosset her like a baby."
When he left the Baron he could not quite decide what his feelings
were. In a sense he was jubilant at the brilliant prospects before
him, but his heart was heavy for Anita. They had lived together all
their lives; they had been through terrible and heart-breaking times.
To-night he was playing at Leicester House, the abode of a musical
duchess. He wanted to play his best; he would not dare to tell the
unsuspecting Anita of his speedy departure. Her tears, her grief,
would unman him.
The first persons he met in the specious saloons overlooking the Green
Park were the Princess Zouroff and her daughter.
The girl held out her hand. "Ah, Signor, I am so pleased to see you.
You must play that lovely little romance to-night. Shall I tell you
the reason?"
"I require no reason, Princess. It is enough for me that you request
me to play it. It shall be played." He blushed a little as he spoke.
He was not accustomed to indulge in _persiflage_ with great ladies.
A little colour came into her face also. Perhaps the young musician's
tone had been more fervent than he intended.
"But I will tell you the reason, nevertheless. We have been recalled
to St. Petersburg; we leave London next week. That is the reason my
brother Boris is not here; he is winding up affairs for his
successor."
A deeper flush spread over Nello's face. "But that is very strange. I
am going there myself. I start next Monday."
The young Princess looked pleased. She turned to her mother. "Signor
Corsini must call upon us, mother." She looked at him with a little
smile. "To-night will not then be the last time I shall hear that
lovely romance."
The elder woman seconded the invitation warmly. "You shall come and
play for us, Signor. I think you will find the Slav temperament a
little more fervent than the Anglo-Saxon one."
Nello thought this a good time for explanations. Degraux would spread
the news about in his world, the Zouroffs would spread it about in
theirs.
"You know, of course, the Baron Salmoros?"
The Princess replied that they had a slight acquaintance with that
distinguished financier.
"Lady Glendover introduced me to him. He is a very considerable
_amateur_, he has been kind enough to take a very warm interest in
me. He is going to push my fortunes in Russia."
"His name is one to conjure with in Russia," said the grey-haired
Princess. "He stands very high in the favour of his Imperial Majesty."
Princess Nada nodded him farewell. "It is not good-bye, then, only
_au revoir_. I suppose artists and ambassadors are the greatest
cosmopolitans on earth. We shall meet next in St. Petersburg."
And, on the Monday of the following week, Corsini set out on his
expedition.
He had seen Degraux, who had congratulated him heartily. "Salmoros
pulls so many strings; he can do more for you in a week than I could
do for you in twelve months," he had told him. "He has run several
theatres for people he believed in. He will do anything in the world
for you when he once takes a fancy."
And little Anita had been very brave; she wept a good deal when she
was alone, but in her brother's presence she kept her tears back. Was
she to oppose the feelings of her loving and undisciplined heart to
the fiat of this new benefactor who had come so unexpectedly into
their lives?
So she went meekly to the big house in Kensington, tenanted by the two
dear old maids who were prepared to mother her, as much for her own
sweet ways as from their ardent admiration for the compelling
Salmoros, who had been a bosom friend of their father.
"Two or three months and I shall be back again!" sighed Corsini as he
settled himself in the train. Little could he guess what the future
would unfold as he made this confident prediction.